Written question asked by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 March 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2016. It was answered by Penny Mordaunt (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 March 2016 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Somalia: Military Aid

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) training, (b) financial and (c) materiel support his Department is providing to the Somali National Army.

Answer: UK support to the Somalia National Army (SNA) totalled £17million in 2015-16, funded through the Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). This is intended to increase to £20million in 2016-17. This includes Defence mentoring support to the development of the SNA in Mogadishu, delivered both bilaterally and through UK personnel embedded in the EU training mission, and Defence oversight of a non-lethal equipment programme (including tents, computers, generators, vehicles). It also includes the provision of stipends; infrastructure support; and a £3million HMG donation to the SNA Trust Fund operated by the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). HMG is looking to deliver an enhanced programme in 2016-17.

Secondary information